Bio-tech company WTRLSS has launched a new digital dyeing technology that aims to transform denim manufacturing by dramatically reducing water and energy consumption.
The Los Angeles-based company claims its patented process can cut water use in denim dyeing and finishing by up to 99.9%, reducing the amount required for a typical pair of jeans from around 75 litres to the equivalent of just two tablespoons. The technology also reduces energy consumption by 90%.
Denim production remains one of the most resource-intensive processes in the fashion industry, relying on multiple dye baths, chemical treatments and washing stages. WTRLSS has developed a one-step digital dyeing process designed to eliminate many of these traditional wet-processing stages, including dye baths, wash-off treatments and water-based finishing processes.
According to the company, the technology not only delivers environmental benefits but also reduces costs linked to water consumption, wastewater treatment and recycling. By removing reliance on water-intensive production methods, WTRLSS believes manufacturers could gain greater flexibility over where denim is produced and support the development of more resilient local and nearshore supply chains.
The technology has already entered commercial trials with several manufacturers and brands. Bangladesh-based Ha-Meem Group, one of the world’s largest denim manufacturers and a supplier to brands including Levi’s, Gap and H&M, is currently partnering with WTRLSS on a commercial production pilot.
Several brands are also preparing to launch collections featuring the technology later this year, with commercial orders already underway.
WTRLSS was founded by Swiss-French scientist Dr Mickaël Mheidle, whose work across engineering, bioscience and digital technologies led to the development of the company’s proprietary MultiActiv™ chemistry. The technology is designed specifically for digital application without the need for conventional wet-processing methods.
Dr Mickaël Mheidle, co-founder, chairman and chief scientist at WTRLSS, said: “For more than a century, the industry has accepted that authentic denim comes with an enormous environmental cost.
“We’ve proven it doesn’t have to. By combining bioscience with digital technology, we’ve created a fundamentally new way to create denim. This is about the digital transformation of one of fashion’s oldest and most resource-intensive industries.”
Dustin White, co-founder and CEO of WTRLSS, added: “We believe there is a better way to dye denim, that doesn’t force manufacturers to choose between quality, cost and sustainability.
“That’s why we’ve built WTRLSS, to give brands a faster, more flexible and more efficient way to manufacture their denim products. Improving how denim is dyed is not just an environmental challenge; it’s a commercial imperative.”
Sajid Azad, director of Ha-Meem Group, said the technology enables the company to produce “world-class authentically finished denim while eliminating decades of water waste”.
While denim is the company’s initial focus, WTRLSS plans to expand the technology into other textile categories. The process has been designed for use across a range of natural and regenerated fibres, including cotton, jute, bamboo and linen, opening up opportunities across the wider textile manufacturing sector.
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